THE MONSTER INSIDE

Six-year-old Ally plopped down on my bed and said, “Grandma, why are you back here all alone?”

“I’m just sitting here playing Candy Crush (the mindless Facebook game that helps me not feel anything). I’m okay.”

Ally was silent for a few minutes and finally said quietly, “You know, Grandma, when the monster inside is really scary you just have to turn on the TV and that makes the monster be quiet. Do you want me to turn on ‘Chopped’ (a cooking show that Ally knows I like to watch). I’ll watch it with you.” She handed me the remote control and I silently turned on an episode of Chopped from the DVR. Ally snuggled up next to me and we watched it without speaking.

After awhile she said, “Wanna watch Sponge Bob now?”

“Not really,” I answered her.

“Okay,” she sighed and snuggled in close to watch the rest of Chopped.